Review - Bevan: A Well-Loved Bear

Bevan: A Well-Loved Bear
by Petra Brown
Date: 2021
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Over many years a teddy bear named Bevan enters the lives of different boys and girls, and after countless adventures, Bevan is old and patchy, but still loved.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Bevan is a very old teddy bear. He once belonged to some children a long time ago. When they grew up, their nanny gave Bevan to her grandchild... and so began the journey of a teddy bear from Victorian times to the present day.

The strength of this book lies in its illustrations. The story is simple, and perhaps lacks some of the emotion that other books in this vein might have. But it's still sweet, and Bevan is a sympathetic character. I did enjoy watching the progression of time and seeing all of Bevan's various "lives" as he brings joy to a number of children.

This book reminded me of Henry Cole's One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey with its multigenerational passing-on of a beloved object. It also reminded me a bit of Kate DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (which is longer and more on the emotional side). If you enjoy books such as these, you might also like the story of Bevan the bear.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - How to Find a Fox

How to Find a Fox
by Kate Gardner
photographs by Ossi Saarinen
Date: 2021
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Look for tracks. Listen for yips. Be as still as a pebble.

Taking kids on an imaginary trek through different landscapes and seasons, How to Find a Fox celebrates one of our planet's most graceful and enchanting creatures: the red fox. Ossi Saarinen's stunning wildlife photos and Kate Gardner's lively and informative words capture the magical and profound connection between animals and humans. Readers will be inspired to get outside and make their own discoveries--maybe with a camera in-hand, just like Ossi.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Attention fox lovers! You'll want to check out How to Find a Fox, which combines lovely photographs with a simple text and some interesting facts about our vulpine friends.

If I have any complaints, it's with some of the landscape photographs. I'm not sure if we're supposed to find foxes within them or not. I spent quite a while trying to find the critters, Where's Waldo? style, and couldn't really see any in most of the landscapes. (I did spot a fox in one, which made me think there might've been a fox in all of them.) So, either there are no foxes and it's all a bit misleading... or there are foxes and it's way too difficult to find them!

Other than that, though, the photos of the actual foxes are lovely. I even learned a few things I didn't know before.

Highly recommended to readers who enjoy books about foxes and wildlife, or who like picture books illustrated with gorgeous photos.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - Pink!

Pink!
by Lynne Rickards
illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain
Date: 2008
Publisher: Chicken House
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

When Patrick wakes up one day to find he has inexplicably turned bright pink, he sees red! "Whoever heard of a pink penguin?" he cries. "And boys can't be pink!" After too much teasing, he's had enough. "I don't fit in here anymore," he tells his parents. "I'm going to Africa to see the flamingos." But poor Patrick doesn't fit in with them, either: He can't stand on one leg, skim the water for food, or fly off with the rest of the flock. So he returns home--and everyone is happy to see him! In fact, his friends are green with envy over his exotic trip. Ends up being hot pink is pretty cool!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Pink! tells the story of Patrick the penguin who wakes up one day to find that he's turned pink. In a fit of gender conformity, he declares that boys can't be pink, only to be chastened somewhat when his father tells him about flamingoes. Feeling like he no longer fits in with the other black-and-white penguins, he decides to head to Africa to live with the flamingoes. But when he gets there, he finds he doesn't fit in with those tall pink birds, either. So he heads home and everybody wants to know about his trip. The book finishes with Patrick declaring that penguins belong at the South Pole.

*sigh*

First of all, penguins don't live at the South Pole. They live near the water where they can feed, not in the landlocked middle of a continent. Second... there are penguins in Africa, contrary to what Patrick might think. What a missed opportunity to teach kids about the range and habitat of penguins!

This book rubbed me the wrong way, almost from the beginning. There's no reason for Patrick's colour change. It reinforced gender stereotypes. And it gives inaccurate information about penguins.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Rubylicious

Rubylicious (Pinkalicious)
by Victoria Kann
Date: 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The #1 New York Times bestselling author-artist of the Pinkalicious series, Victoria Kann, is back with an all new-picture book about generosity and kindness, starring Pinkalicious and Peterrific.

Pinkalicious is searching for stones for her rock collection when suddenly—POOF!—out pops a surprise! Rocky is here to grant Pinkalicious and her brother Peter one wish, and one wish only, so they must choose wisely.

Should they wish for a pile of sweets? Or the ability to fly? Or maybe a castle with a fire-breathing dragon? But are any of those things good enough to be their very best, most special wish in the whole wide world? And what will happen to Rocky after they make their wish?

This gem of a book looks at how being selfless can be its own best reward. Rubylicious is a sparkling addition to the Pinkalicious library!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read another book in the Pinkalicious series a couple years ago, and then vowed to avoid them going forward. Well, I saw that the library had this new one, and I was curious. It can't possibly be any worse, I thought. And... it wasn't. But not by much.

Pinkalicious (I hope she grows up and sues her parents for giving her that moniker) finds a rock. It's dirty, so she polishes it, and out pops a genie. But she's not a genie. She grants wishes and she lives in a rock, but she's not a genie, okay? Anyway, the kids wish for stupid things like piles of candy and flying machines. Rather than just let the kids make their own mistakes, Rocky the non-genie gives them a sampling of each wish. Finally, the kids decide that their wishes are stupid (duh) and wish for something much better... at which point everyone is rewarded and gets everything they wanted. The end.

I can't stand picture books that are this facile and silly. There are no stakes and no consequences. As a result, I didn't really care about what happened to any of these characters. The illustrations are colourful, but almost to the point of pain. I guess kids might like them. But I wouldn't want to inflict these books on anyone I cared about.

If you're looking for a book series about a spunky, colourful little girl, try Fancy Nancy instead. Unlike the Pinkalicious books, those ones are more firmly grounded in reality with cute, relatable little life lessons and charming pictures.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 1/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.33 out of 5

Review - What Is It?

What Is It?
by Nicole Hoang
illustrated by Dustin Nguyen
Date: 2021
Publisher: KaBOOM!
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

It’s rather strange, I’d have to say.
I saw the thing just yesterday.
What is it?
What could it be?
Someone please answer this for me!

In a nearby forest, a young girl discovers a mysterious little creature. Together, they seek to understand who or what the other is.

Beautifully painted by Dustin Nguyen (Lil’ Gotham, Study Hall of Justice) and written by Nicole Hoang, What Is It? captures the curiosity, wonder, and discovery of childhood, where it’s still easy to be surprised by the unexpected.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is strange, I'd have to say.

The strangest thing I've seen today.

What is this book?

What could it be?

Will someone please explain to me?

The rhymes are clunky.

The tone is off.

The pictures funky.

I'd like to scoff.

I'd really like to know the point

Of a creature so unpleasant.

The authors may have smoked a joint

Or ate some rancid pheasant.

This book just doesn't work for me.

I'm thinking that's subjective.

So I'll just stop while I'm ahead

And forgo the invective.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.57 out of 5

Review - Ms. Goshsquash

Ms. Goshsquash
by Lola Coleman
Date: 2021
Publisher: DartFrog Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

What if all it took for a kid to learn to be good was a trip to the farm? Follow three best friends as they learn from their teacher and her odd pet yak why being kind is always the way to go, discover who they are, and turn into the great kids they want to become.

Have you been naughty?
Can’t help being mean?
Perhaps you’d like to know what happens to kids who make a scene.
Well take a look inside this book; I’ll show you what I mean,
for you’ll never meet another other who’s as real as she can be.

Her name was Ms. Goshsquash, and everyone knew
that if a child went bad, she'd know what to do!
At first, the people of Drost thought her to be mean.
Some said she was the meanest old woman they had ever seen.
Yet it was those same people who asked her one day
to come into town to live and to stay.

You see, Ms. Goshsquash had a way with children that nobody else had,
but only those who didn't listen to their parents, misbehaved at school, or were just plain bad.
She spoke in rhyme and song, but if you paid attention you'd soon know
that really all she wanted was for kids to be kind as they grow.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a strange, preachy little book that made me distinctly uncomfortable.

We're introduced to Ms. Goshsquash, who lives alone with her yak and apparently knows how to deal with naughty children. That sounds like a lot more fun than it is. Basically, Ms. Goshsquash takes it upon herself to be judge and jury, kidnaps a trio of children who are skipping school, and then forces them to see the error of their ways by trapping them in a magic mirror before releasing them so they can go to school and be helpful.

The yak plays no part in any of this.

While I did enjoy the watercolour illustrations, I wasn't a fan of the story. It just tried too hard to send a message. And I'm not sure that threatening children with the prospect of being kidnapped by a witch is the best way to encourage good behaviour.

Thank you to NetGalley and DartFrog Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.14 out of 5

Review - The Bad Mood

The Bad Mood
by Moritz Petz
illustrated by Amélie Jackowski
Date: 2004
Publisher: NorthSouth Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Sometimes a bad mood can be contagious!

Badger got up one morning feeling very grumpy. "Humph!" Badger said to himself. What was the point of being in a bad mood if nobody noticed? he thought. So Badger headed out, slamming the door behind him. Badger spreads his bad mood far and wide, greeting all his friends with angry, rude remarks that put them in bad moods, too. A comical, cautionary tale for anyone who has ever gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

We all have a bad mood from time to time. This quick story follows Badger as he wakes up in a bad mood and decides he must let all his friends know about it. By the time his grumpiness has worked its way out of his system, all his friends are in a bad mood and want nothing to do with him!

While the ending does seem abrupt and a little too easy, it still makes sense. For the audience, it works. The message here is a good one and not too difficult to understand. The illustrations are quite cute, too.

Overall, this is a nice little book about the way a bad mood can ruin our day, as well as everyone else's. But only if we let it.

Thank you to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Elatsoe (DNF)

Elatsoe
by Darcie Little Badger
Date: 2020
Publisher: Levine Querido
Reading level: YA
Book type: prose novel
Pages: 368
Format: e-book
Source: Kobo

Imagine an America very similar to our own. It's got homework, best friends, and pistachio ice cream.

There are some differences. This America has been shaped dramatically by the magic, monsters, knowledge, and legends of its peoples, those Indigenous and those not. Some of these forces are charmingly everyday, like the ability to make an orb of light appear or travel across the world through rings of fungi. But other forces are less charming and should never see the light of day.

Elatsoe lives in this slightly stranger America. She can raise the ghosts of dead animals, a skill passed down through generations of her Lipan Apache family. Her beloved cousin has just been murdered in a town that wants no prying eyes. But she is going to do more than pry. The picture-perfect facade of Willowbee masks gruesome secrets, and she will rely on her wits, skills, and friends to tear off the mask and protect her family.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

DNF @ 18%

This sounded like it would be good, but I didn't even read 1/5 of it and I just can't bring myself to open it back up (which is always a bad sign). While the writing is technically okay, there's a big mismatch between the characters' ages and how they're portrayed. Ellie is supposed to be 17, but she comes across as a tween and the book (what I read of it, anyway) reads more like middle grade than young adult.

I'm also not a fan of the way the fantasy elements are handled. I expected more Indigenous myths. Instead, I got a mishmash of myths with everything from ghosts and vampires to river creatures and European fairies. Which myths are Apache? Who knows? (I kind of wanted to.)

What I read of this book reminded me of Sarah Cannon's Oddity, a middle-grade novel with a similar setting that also throws everything but the kitchen sink at its readers in terms of supernatural creatures. (I didn't love that one either, but at least it didn't try to pass itself off as YA.)

Judging by the high overall rating of this book, it definitely has an audience. Unfortunately, I'm not it.

Review - A Friend Like You

A Friend Like You
by Frank Murphy & Charnaie Gordon
illustrated by Kayla Harren
Date: 2021
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

There's nothing in the world like a wonderful friend. Friends are there to laugh with you and ready with a hug when you need one. There are forever friends and brand new friends. Friends for adventures and friends for cozy days indoors. Friends who are just like you and friends who are nothing like you at all. In this book, celebrate ALL the marvelous ways to be a friend!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I picked up this book without realizing I'd already read another one from the same author and illustrator, A Boy Like You, which I read in 2019 and really enjoyed. A Friend Like You features a lovely message, some great tips on making (and strengthening) friendships, and absolutely adorable pictures.

There's something charming and magical about Kayla Harren's illustrations. A beautifully diverse array of children is presented here, anchored by one friendship between a black girl and a white boy whose relationship carries through the pages of the book. Values like open-mindedness, forgiveness, and listening are illustrated with playful images that are both sweet and poignant.

I'd recommend this one to readers looking for strong books about friendship. How to be a good friend is a topic that's always timely.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.5 out of 5

Review - The Hiking Viking

The Hiking Viking
by Laura Gehl
illustrated by Timothy Brooks
Date: 2022
Publisher: Capstone
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

While the other Vikings love to holler and howl and battle and brawl, Leif prefers spending time by himself atop the beautiful fjord. But when it’s time for the Viking Games, everyone must participate. Will Leif let down his clan . . . or surprise them?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I picked this book up mostly because of the title (who doesn't love a good rhyme?) and was pleasantly surprised by what was inside. The Hiking Viking is the story of young Leif, who prefers spending time in nature. All the other Vikings, though, keep telling him he needs to act more like them. It's a matter of honour, they say. If they lose the Viking Games, their clan will be thought weak and ripe for plundering. So Leif tries his best, but... he isn't very good at feats of physical strength. When it comes down to the final challenge, though, Leif just may have the key to winning it all.

This is basically a story about appreciating nature and taking time away from noisy pursuits to have a few moments of stillness. Introverts will be able to relate to Leif's desire for peace and quiet. Nature lovers will delight in the illustrations, which are luminous and celebrate the natural world. The characters are stylized, but Leif is a standout, with great facial expressions and a charming vulnerability.

Fans of Viking stories will probably want to check this one out. So will those who appreciate nature and all the precious treasures it has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Capstone for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5